The past is a notion that dictates the future. In the book the dragon argued a lot that knowledge of the past does not shape the future. Yet, he appears to be quite mistaken. The past is everything. It is the past that dictates how we view other people, and it influences the relationships between individuals or groups of people. As we have previously said when Beowulf came to Geatland, the first message delivered to him from Hrothgar stated: "My lord Hrothgar bids me announce that he knows your ancestry; also that he welcomes you here to Heorot." It further states that Beowulf is "here to follow up on an old friendship.", clearly illustrating how the events of the past influence our actions in the relative future.
This is able to happen because, although things of the past are not literally still alive, they are still present in people's thoughts and their consequences will live on. We can see how the past is always alive in the minds of people, in the songs of the Shaper, and when we see how men are driven to war by thoughts of the past.
Thus the past is significant as it creates the future. From that, it is a logical progression that everything does matter. Everything matters because everything that happens has at a purpose. The purpose of playing a part in determining the outlook of the future. It may the be the immediate future a few moments, or weeks, after the event or it may be the future many many years from now, but all things serve this purpose. The immediate future can be seen in how we perceive ourselves, and even Grendel is culpable of this. On page 48 of Grendel: "My heart was light with Hrothgar's goodness, and leaden with grief at my own bloodthirsty ways." it shows how Grendel's past wrongs have had a profound effect on his conscience in the future. Everything that happens has significance, thus, things do matter.
Finally, the future is reached through progression. Because Beowulf had an honorable past he was admitted into Heorot. Because he was admitted into Heorot he was able to kill Grendel. Because Grendel was killed the fury of Grendel's mother was released. Because Grendel's mother came Beowulf was forced to kill her again. Etc. Etc. Etc. It is evident that each step leads to another through progression. Had Beowulf not had an honorable reputation from his past, he would not have been admitted into Heorot and none of the preceding events would have taken place, providing an example of why it is that all things matter.
Since events are all reached through progression, it further follows that the world is not an unplanned accident, which can be further illustrated by the description of what the shaper has said: "He told how the earth was first built, long ago: said that the greatest of gods made the world, every wonder-bright plain and the turning seas, and set out as signs of his victory the sun and moon, great lamps for light to land dwellers, kingdom torches and adorned the fields with all colors and shapes, made limbs and leaves and gave life to the every creature that moves on land." Page 51 Grendel. If the world is not an unplanned accident, the past is important and everything matters, then it seems quite evident that there is no reason that existence would be meaningless.
QUESTIONS
Wealtheow:
Is there any part of your life, especially in the part outlined in textual evidence that states or even suggests you have done anything immoral such as lying or cheating or stealing?
Thus would you agree that you are quite a credible witness?
How old are you?
And how old is your husband?
Wow, that's quite a large age difference, so why is it that you agreed to marry a man that is quite literally old enough to be your father?
What do you think you give to your husband? (his reason for living)
What does your mere presence in the meadhall create?
Why do you strive to create peace?
Unferth:
Would you say that you put the well being of others before your own life?
Provide textual evidence
Why is it important for you to be a hero? (provide meaning in people's lives)
Elaborate on your reasoning to go down and kill Grendel without telling anyone
OUTLINE (ROUGH)
"My heart was light with Hrothgar's goodness, and leaden with grief at my own bloodthirsty ways. I backed away, crablike, further into the darkness" Page 48 Grendel. This shows that things matter, and that the past is not irrelevant. It shows that it matters whether or not you are good and behave in the proper way, since if you behave like Grendel, it burdens your conscience. It matter what you have done in the past - it is the past raids and killings that Grendel has done that is making him so miserable, and it is the past acts of generosity and kindness that Hrothgar has done that are allowing him to be celebrated in such a fashion
"He told how the earth was first built, long ago: said that the greatest of gods made the world, every wonder-bright plain and the turning seas, and set out as signs of his victory the sun and moon, great lamps for light to land dwellers, kingdom torches and adorned the fields with all colors and shapes, made limbs and leaves and gave life to the every creature that moves on land." Page 51 Grendel. Shows that the world is not a pointless accident - everything on this world, all of its joys were created meticulously, and with great care by God. The usage of the phrase "set out" enforces that he started in order to create the world, and did not accidently do so with no plan.
"A swirl in the stream of time. A temporary gathering of bits, a few random dust specs, so to speak - pure metaphor, you understand - then by chance a vast floating cloud of dustspecks" Page 70 Grendel. This passage means that the world that Grendel knows now is just a momentary gathering of dust that will soon become pointless. The dragon references this to all of time itself - that with time everything disappears. Yet this is completely wrong - all the events that take place on this earth have the purpose of shaping it and progressing it - like evolution. Events that take place have their consequences; Wars leave their mark, for instance past wars cause rivalries between clans.
"I used to know him when he was a young boy. His father before him was called Ecgtheow... This mane is their son, here to follow up on an old friendship." Line 377 and "My lord... bids me announce that he knows your ancestry" Line 391 Page 27 Beowulf.Illustrates how the past is relevant - the fact that he knew his father and knew that he was a respectable man gives Beowulf himself some kind of respectability himself, and the fact that their fathers were friends in the past plays a part in motivating Beowulf to come now and help Hrothgar in his time of need. The Hrothgar knowing Beowulf's ancestry is what allows him entry into Herot and what makes Hrothgar trust him at first - significance of the past."
"When drunken men argued, pitting theory against theory, bludgeoning each other's absurdities, she came between them wordless, uncondemning, pouring out mead like a mother's love, and they were softened, reminded of their humanness, exactly as they might have been softened by the cry of a child in danger, or an old man's suffering, or spring." Page 103 Grendel. The kindness and gentleness of Wealtheow matters - it is this which creates peace and wards against the unnecessary loss of human life, as usually occurs when soldiers become riled up.
MY LETTER REFLECTION
This letter taught me a bit about what John Gardener was trying to put into his book Grendel. However, it irked me a lot that he would get angry about what three children interpreted Beowulf as. Just because he read into it in a deep, philosophical manner that probably the author of Beowulf did not intend, it does not mean that everyone else must approach the book in the same way. I also realized through reading this that John Gardener probably meant what Unferth says in Grendel to be reflective of how the author himself views Beowulf - all the spiel about how a hero 'transcends' and sees value beyond what's possible but how in the end dies, was a reflection on how the author views Beowulf. Thus, it was not that helpful to me when stating my argument, and this piece is probably more helpful to the other side. However, one part that caught my attention was the part where he argued that "we don't need eternal values to try and assert and live up to them." which ultimately argued that, even if things fade, there is no reason for us to continue on as if this was inevitable. It is an argument for the fact that even though things may disappear over time, life itself does not have to be meaningless because of this. Another point was, "its better to be wrong, even foolish, than nihilitic." I think this may be the basis of my argument. Thus reading this letter was quite helpful to my court case.. speech although i did not like the way in which John Gardner wrote and think that a lot of the time he contradicted himself.
CLOSING STATEMENT
The past is a notion that dictates the future. In the book the dragon argued a lot that knowledge of the past does not shape the future. Yet, he appears to be quite mistaken. The past is everything. It is the past that dictates how we view other people, and it influences the relationships between individuals or groups of people. As we have previously said when Beowulf came to Geatland, the first message delivered to him from Hrothgar stated: "My lord Hrothgar bids me announce that he knows your ancestry; also that he welcomes you here to Heorot." It further states that Beowulf is "here to follow up on an old friendship.", clearly illustrating how the events of the past influence our actions in the relative future.
This is able to happen because, although things of the past are not literally still alive, they are still present in people's thoughts and their consequences will live on. We can see how the past is always alive in the minds of people, in the songs of the Shaper, and when we see how men are driven to war by thoughts of the past.
Thus the past is significant as it creates the future. From that, it is a logical progression that everything does matter. Everything matters because everything that happens has at a purpose. The purpose of playing a part in determining the outlook of the future. It may the be the immediate future a few moments, or weeks, after the event or it may be the future many many years from now, but all things serve this purpose. The immediate future can be seen in how we perceive ourselves, and even Grendel is culpable of this. On page 48 of Grendel: "My heart was light with Hrothgar's goodness, and leaden with grief at my own bloodthirsty ways." it shows how Grendel's past wrongs have had a profound effect on his conscience in the future. Everything that happens has significance, thus, things do matter.
Finally, the future is reached through progression. Because Beowulf had an honorable past he was admitted into Heorot. Because he was admitted into Heorot he was able to kill Grendel. Because Grendel was killed the fury of Grendel's mother was released. Because Grendel's mother came Beowulf was forced to kill her again. Etc. Etc. Etc. It is evident that each step leads to another through progression. Had Beowulf not had an honorable reputation from his past, he would not have been admitted into Heorot and none of the preceding events would have taken place, providing an example of why it is that all things matter.
Since events are all reached through progression, it further follows that the world is not an unplanned accident, which can be further illustrated by the description of what the shaper has said: "He told how the earth was first built, long ago: said that the greatest of gods made the world, every wonder-bright plain and the turning seas, and set out as signs of his victory the sun and moon, great lamps for light to land dwellers, kingdom torches and adorned the fields with all colors and shapes, made limbs and leaves and gave life to the every creature that moves on land." Page 51 Grendel. If the world is not an unplanned accident, the past is important and everything matters, then it seems quite evident that there is no reason that existence would be meaningless.
QUESTIONS
Wealtheow:
Unferth:
OUTLINE (ROUGH)
MY LETTER REFLECTION
This letter taught me a bit about what John Gardener was trying to put into his book Grendel. However, it irked me a lot that he would get angry about what three children interpreted Beowulf as. Just because he read into it in a deep, philosophical manner that probably the author of Beowulf did not intend, it does not mean that everyone else must approach the book in the same way. I also realized through reading this that John Gardener probably meant what Unferth says in Grendel to be reflective of how the author himself views Beowulf - all the spiel about how a hero 'transcends' and sees value beyond what's possible but how in the end dies, was a reflection on how the author views Beowulf. Thus, it was not that helpful to me when stating my argument, and this piece is probably more helpful to the other side. However, one part that caught my attention was the part where he argued that "we don't need eternal values to try and assert and live up to them." which ultimately argued that, even if things fade, there is no reason for us to continue on as if this was inevitable. It is an argument for the fact that even though things may disappear over time, life itself does not have to be meaningless because of this. Another point was, "its better to be wrong, even foolish, than nihilitic." I think this may be the basis of my argument. Thus reading this letter was quite helpful to my court case.. speech although i did not like the way in which John Gardner wrote and think that a lot of the time he contradicted himself.